and from Nuʿmān and Yaḥyā ibn Urmiyā, the Jew of the Balqāʾ, for they had never pledged their hand to any governor; so I wrote to them.

Duʿāmah repented, and Nuʿmān swore solemn oaths that so long as I remained in office he would harm no one.

Ibn Urmiyā then requested a guarantee of safety so that he might come and debate; I granted it. Presently a shaggy-haired, gaunt youth arrived, dressed in brocade cloaks, with a belt and an ornamented sword. He entered the Green Palace and gave his greeting while still below the carpet. I said, “Come up.”

He replied, “The carpet has its sanctity. I fear that sitting on it will bind me, and I do not know what you intend to demand of me.”

I said, “Embrace Islam and obey.”

He answered, “As for obedience, I hope I can comply, but there is no path for me to Islam. What do you require if I do not become Muslim?”

I said, “You must pay the jizya (poll-tax).”

He said, “Excuse me from it.”

I said, “By no means.”

He said, “Then I shall depart under the protection you have granted me.”

I permitted him to leave and ordered that his horse be watered. When he saw this, he called for his servant’s mount, left his own horse behind, and said, “I will not take away anything that has benefited from you, lest I should have to fight you over it.”

I felt ashamed and had him brought back. When he entered I said, “Praise be to Allah, I have apprehended you without any covenant.”

He asked, “How so?”

I replied, “Because you departed from me and have now returned.”

He said, “Your condition was that you would send me to a place of safety. If your residence is that place, I have nothing to fear; but if my place of safety is my own land, then return me there.”

I pressed him to pay the jizya, offering in return to grant him two thousand dinars each year, but he refused and left. He then set the world ablaze with mischief. When a sum of money was being conveyed from Egypt, he attacked it. Nuʿmān wrote to inform me, so I ordered him to fight the man.

Nuʿmān set out, and the Jew confronted him with his band. Nuʿmān asked him to withdraw, but he refused and said, “Duel with me; if you like, I will face you alone, you and your army.”

Nuʿmān said, “O Yaḥyā, shame on you! You are a young man carried away by conceit. Even if you were of the noblest lineage of Quraysh, you would still have no right to defy (1) the sovereign. This commander is the caliph’s brother, and I—though we differ in religion—do not wish a horseman to be slain by my hand. If you care for safety, come out to me, and let no one be tried…"